Coast Guard responds to diesel spill in Willamette River, Ore.

WARRENTON, Ore. — Coast Guard personnel responded to the release of 418 gallons of diesel into the Willamette River at the Kinder Morgan Bulk Terminal northwest of Portland, Monday.

Inspectors with the Coast Guard Incident Management Division in Portland are monitoring the situation as the contracted oil spill response organization investigates down river for possible residual pollution, after they boomed off and placed absorbent pads around the spill site.

“We aware of the situation and the responsible party, Kirby Offshore Marine, has contracted Clean Rivers to handle clean up,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Shane Nolan, the situation unit controller at Sector Columbia River. “We’re monitoring the situation and working to ensure minimal impact to the environment.”

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a report from the Coast Guard National Response Center of a bunker tank overfill releasing diesel in the vicinity of the Kinder Morgan facility around 5:18 a.m.